My Travel Blog Site

While the city of Memphis, Tennessee is virtually unaffected by the flooding caused by the swelling Mississippi River, some of the state’s most popular attractions are underwater. Memphis is the final resting place for Elvis Presley and it is generally thought of as the birthplace of of American music. The Tennessee tourism industry will be heavily impacted as more flooding is expected. Nearby, Louisiana braces for what might be the state’s second major catastrophe in less than 10 years. Engineers are working on a plan to reroute the flood waters so that they will bypass the still struggling city of New Orleans.

Many international travelers visit the US and fly to major cities in the Northeast and on the West Coast. For US residents, the rich heritage of the South attracts families on vacations and budding historians. Southern states rely heavily on agriculture, manufacturing and tourism to balance their budgets and fund public services. Just a single weak travel season can have devastating effects on small businesses, restaurant chains and government bodies in the south.

It may take the Mideast region of the US years to recover from the flooding that has already occurred, and when the Mississippi’s waters rush into the crops, flood homes and put businesses out of commission, the results may be everlasting. Officials are urging travelers to pay attention to current reports, but they hope that they will not cancel their plans for fear of losing money. By mid-summer, many flooded areas may be completely tried out, however, most communities will take months to be rebuilt.